Travel & Hip Replacement

[smokehouse]

Hi everyone,

Me and my wife have been planning a trip to Perth Australia for the last two years. When we booked our flight we didn't get flight insurance (lessoned learned). I am having hip replacement surgery in a couple of weeks and our flight to Australia leaves in a month from the surgery. The longest leg of the flight is 17 hours from Dallas to Sydney. I am 55 years old and so I was wondering if anyone has flown with a new hip? My doctor has told me 3 months but have been talking with several people that are telling me within 2 weeks to a month there is no pain. Good news is my flight to Jamaica is about three months. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks
Smokehouse

[Jamerican71]

That sounds like a long uncomfortable journey.....when my parents traveled to Australia, they upgraded to more comfortable seating and traveled with a pillow my dad could sit on.

Can you postpone your surgery until your return?

[Jamerican71]

Also, call the airlines and request wheelchair assistance - you will be seated close to the front of the plane

[johng]

Hi Smokehouse,

A lot of variables to this one. Much depends on your surgery (many different techniques) and how you recover. There is always a threat of infection. Also depends on your seating on the plane to Sydney and the airline you fly with. If you have a first or business class seat I say maybe 17 hours is doable. Another thing is the possibility of blood clots in the legs so you would really need to do some walking around on the plane. Airlines are not usually willing to upgrade you for free because of your problem. If coach is the way you are going try and get a bulkhead seat as it offers 3-6 more inches of leg room.

The good news is your joint pain will be gone but the area of the incision and the muscle, tendons, ligaments is where pain will be. If you have a big jug of pain meds and sleeping pills to comfort you maybe yes. If you don't it could be a very long 17 hours.

There are some companies that you can buy flight insurance through right up until the day before you fly but seemingly a preexisting problem would disqualify you???

Hip replacement surgery is not a walk in the park so be prepared for a lot of work ahead.

Cheers,
John

[johng]

Smokehouse,

Just thought of something. Travel cancellation policies are pretty inexpensive, I use them all the time. If your surgery does not go according to plan or is too painful or you are too worried about traveling so far so soon after surgery you can make your mind up about cancelling then rather than now. You probably need some sort of doctor's note or other substantiation as proof that you are unable to fly but my experience has been these Travel cancellation policies are legit. Call a couple up and ask the questions. I flew from JFK-Munich-JFK (only 8 hours) about 5 weeks after total hip replacement and with some PKillers and beers was able (barely) to make it in coach for that long. I pleaded for a seat in Business Class to no avail.

Jamerican71 is absolutely correct about the wheelchair assistance but as far as seating goes the first row of Coach is as far forward as you will get. I had requested the bulkhead seat weeks in advance and was surprised upon boarding that my seat was in the middle of 5 seats almost in the far rear of the plane. If it wasn't for a kind hearted Italian woman who agreed to give up her bulkhead seat to me I probably wouldn't have made it

https://www.allianztravelinsurance.com/

The airline I flew with was Lufthansa by the way so perhaps your carrier to Australia would be more understanding???

Hope this helps,
John

[Babalew]

From personal experience, I would not fly 1 month after surgery...hell you might not be able to walk properly and are in greater danger of blood clots. Rehab was the hardest thing i've ever done...truly work!....listen to your dr, he knows best!

[Blueallah]

My wife was walking on the beach in Negril 8 weeks after double hip replacement. I don't think she would have been very stable doing that or able to comfortably fly at 5-6 weeks. She recovered remarkably and had everything (age/weight/health/etc) in her favor for recovery. I haven't gone through it personally, but my opinion after watching her is that 4-5 weeks would be to soon for much, if any, travel plans.

[smokehouse]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, this is why I like the board. I think we will be postponing our trip until after we get back from Jamaica in March.

JohnG thanks for letting me know about the Travel Insurance - I thought it was something you could only purchase at the time you bought the tickets. I think we will get this insurance before our trip in March.

Thanks again everyone!!! Have a great week.

[Homebrewer]

Thanks everyone for your feedback, this is why I like the board. I think we will be postponing our trip until after we get back from Jamaica in March.

JohnG thanks for letting me know about the Travel Insurance - I thought it was something you could only purchase at the time you bought the tickets. I think we will get this insurance before our trip in March.

Thanks again everyone!!! Have a great week.

many policies I've looked into require buying the policy within days of booking IF you wish to have coverage for pre-existing conditions.

[Lola]

If its only the flight, it shouldn't be more than change fees, hopefully not more than $200/person. Your health and comfort is worth it. If you have the chance to buy the insurance when you change the flight, get it. Hope all goes well on your 'test flight' to Jamaica!